Chapter 1Katniss“Get away! Let me in! I am still his wife,” I exclaimed, slamming my hand on the broad chest of the bodyguard barring my way. After ten minutes of hysterical begging, I finally forced the door open.I cried helplessly, tears streaming down my face. Everyone in the room looked at me with disgust.“That woman! Why is she here?” Their murmurs cut through me like blades.This should have been the happiest day of my life. My husband, who had left for a business trip five months ago, was now returning home. But now, standing in the doorway, I witnessed the unthinkable: he was marrying another woman—the very woman who had schemed to drive us apart. She had always been a loser, but now she had won.I strode forward, my face burning with anger, and slapped her hard across the cheek.SLAP!If I hadn't overheard the maids gossiping, I would never have known about their secret wedding. But why? How could he betray me like this?She winced, clamping her mouth shut to stifle a gas
Five years later...My breath caught as his hand slid along my waist, caressing my stomach. His lips teased the side of my face, then moved to my ear, kissing softly. I heard him whisper in his deep voice, "The first time I saw you in the club, I knew I wanted to have a one-night stand with you."I closed my eyes, unable to stop a single tear from falling. My toes curled, wanting to push the body above me away and run from there. But I had no other choice.My daughter had just finished treatment at the hospital, but she wasn't allowed to go home because I hadn't yet paid off the hospital bills. I work as a fashion designer, but this month's salary hasn't come in because the company is going through a crisis, and my boss absolutely refuses to give me an advance.And here I am now. In a cheap hotel with a stranger whose name I don't even know. I need money fast! Following advice from a friend who secured my company, I made up my mind to sell my body because I was informed that it was hi
Katniss“Uncle!” Giselle shouted. A faint smile flickered on his face as he turned towards her, but it vanished the moment his eyes met mine. His body stiffened, eyes widening as he silently mouthed my name. “Katniss.” That’s James ... my ex-husband.“Aww, Mommy, it hurts.” I snapped out of my thoughts and released Giselle's hand. I knelt to check her hand, realizing I had held it too tightly.“Sweetie, I’m sorry." I dared not turn my head as I heard footsteps approaching, his silhouette coming into view.“Uncle!” Giselle called out again, joy in her voice, unaware this man was one of the reasons for our suffering.“Katniss,” he called again, reaching out his hand to help me stand. I stared coldly at his outstretched hand before standing on my own. We locked eyes in silence.“Thank you,” I said coldly. “Giselle said you brought her back.”James hesitated, glancing between Giselle and me. His gaze held deep sorrow and regret, but I dismissed it. There’s no way this heartless man could
JamesMy heart dropped when Mr. Corleone announced that Katniss would soon be Mrs. Corleone. Since when was she involved with one of the most powerful CEOs in Europe? Questions swarmed my mind.“Pardon, sir?” Katniss looked just as shocked, her expression puzzled. A flicker of hope sparked within me.Mr. Corleone chuckled, glancing at Katniss before looking back at me. “Just a joke. The atmosphere was tense, and I was trying to lighten the mood,” he explained. “Or maybe not?” he added with a small laugh, making it clear he was joking. Katniss responded with a faint smile."Ah," Katniss said, her smile barely there. My heart burned with jealousy. What was happening? Why did I feel this way?"I was really shocked. I thought my ex-wife had already found my replacement," I blurted out, locking eyes with Mr. Corleone, a silent challenge hanging in the air. It was as if I was staking a claim, reminding him that Katniss had once been mine.“James,” Katniss protested softly, my words making t
Katniss"So... he's your ex-husband, isn't he?" Mr. Corleone's sudden question startled me. I had been lost in thought, and the worst part was that I had been thinking about the very person Mr. Corleone wanted to discuss.I didn’t answer right away. The last thing I wanted was to dig up the past. But my boss stared at me with a curious intensity. I wasn’t sure why, but after working with him for so long, I’d learned one thing—he was always curious about my life. About other people? Mr. Corleone hardly cared. In fact, he didn’t care at all.Maybe it was because I was his personal assistant, and he thought getting to know me better would make our interactions smoother, more relaxed. A part of me suspected he was trying to blur the lines between boss and assistant, creating an easier flow in our work relationship."Do we really need to talk about this, sir?" I asked, forcing a smile. It was hard, considering how uncomfortable the topic was.Mr. Corleone seemed to read my expression, and
KatnissI gave him a confused look, tilting my head slightly. “Of course, sir,” I replied to his earlier question.A subtle smirk tugged at the corner of Mr. Corleone’s lips. His gaze fixed ahead, the car already in motion as we pulled away. I turned my attention forward as well, but faintly, I heard him murmur.“That will change.”I snapped my head back toward him, startled. “Excuse me, sir? Did you say something?” I asked, needing clarification.I had caught a glimpse of his words, but their meaning eluded me. Was he talking about our talking about ‘friends’ earlier? But Mr. Corleone remained silent, his focus entirely on the road ahead. I shrugged it off, refusing to dwell on it.***James“Wait!” Liam Kent’s voice cut through the air just before I disappeared from his sight. "It’s been so long since we’ve talked. Don’t you miss your sweet older brother?" He spoke with that sickeningly sweet tone, exaggerated on purpose.I stopped in my tracks, hearing his footsteps growing closer.
Katniss"Come on, sweetie."Giselle nodded, and I took her tiny hand as we stepped out of the apartment. But I froze instantly. Someone was already standing at our door."Oh my God! Mr. Corleone, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" I gasped, clutching my chest. He simply smiled, completely unfazed."Heading out?" His voice was calm, almost too casual for the way my heart was racing."Uncle! It’s the same uncle from yesterday," Giselle exclaimed, eyes wide with recognition."What brings you here so early?" I asked, trying to catch my breath and make sense of his sudden appearance.He glanced at me briefly, then crouched down to Giselle’s level. "Good morning, Giselle. Did you sleep well?" His voice softened as he addressed her, his gaze kind and warm.Giselle nodded shyly. "Yes, Uncle."Yesterday, he’d introduced us to his family, as promised. Giselle had been hesitant at first, but now... now there was something different. They had connected in a way that seemed almost too easy, too fa
KatnissI wanted to pull Mr. Corleone away from this place immediately. My hand was already gripping his arm when he looked at me, puzzled. But before I could urge him to leave, my eyes locked with his.The shock in his gaze was unmistakable when he saw me. His eyes flicked to Giselle, then to Mr. Corleone, and James’s expression instantly hardened, turning cold.What irritated me even more was the fact that James was currently with the homewrecker—Renata. She was busy examining some snacks, asking James to choose which one was better, but he wasn’t paying her any attention. His focus was entirely on me and Mr. Corleone.Renata raised an eyebrow, clearly confused about what had caught her husband’s attention. She followed his gaze and, the moment she saw me, her face twisted into a sour expression. Her eyes narrowed as they met mine."James!" I heard her voice snap as she called out to her husband, slapping his arm.“What are you staring at?!” Renata immediately erupted in anger.Jame
The night air felt cooler as they stepped outside the airport lounge, their hands locked tightly together. Every step forward felt like an unspoken promise that they would stand united, no matter how fierce the battle would become. Katniss couldn’t shake the feeling that something monumental was about to unfold, something that would change the course of their lives forever. James had always been torn between family duty and the love they had built, but this was different. He was ready to fight, and that determination sparked something inside her too.She glanced at James, his jaw set, his eyes filled with a quiet resolve. But his eyes also held a familiar anguish—a storm of emotions swirling beneath the surface. They had both lost so much, but they still had each other. For now, that was enough."James, whatever happens, we're not going anywhere," Katniss said softly, her voice steady but filled with vulnerability. She needed him to hear that, to understand that her loyalty to him wou
The man sat back in his luxurious car, clutching his cellphone tightly as he stared out of the window. In his mind, the faces of Katniss and Giselle kept resurfacing."They need time," he murmured quietly, more to himself. "And I’ll wait for as long as it takes."His secretary glanced at him, pausing for a moment before asking, "Sir, would you like to return to the headquarters now?"The man shook his head, his eyes still filled with determination. "No. I won’t go back until I’ve finished this. Find a way to help them, directly or indirectly. I want them to know I’m here—without disturbing them too much."His secretary nodded, understanding that this was more than just a regular instruction. This was something deeply personal to the man—more important than his wealth or power.And for the first time in his life, the man felt a small glimmer of hope. Hope that he could fix the past and rebuild something he had lost.Katniss’s POVThe days following my encounter with the man who claimed
JamesMy phone buzzed in my pocket, shattering the warm silence between us. I sighed, already anticipating who it might be. The name flashing on the screen confirmed my suspicions."Dad," I greeted as I answered, keeping my tone steady.His voice came through sharp and direct, and the moment I heard the clipped edge to his words, my stomach tightened. He wanted something, and he wasn’t the type to ask lightly.I listened, my brow furrowing with each word. A tight knot formed in my chest, but I let him finish before responding. “Alright,” I said, my voice as calm as I could muster. “We’ll see you soon.”I ended the call, my fingers gripping the phone harder than necessary. Turning to Katniss, I forced a smile, though I could see she wasn’t fooled."That was my dad," I began, pausing for a moment to gauge her reaction. "He… he wants us to come to New York.”“Let’s go there with me and Giselle, Katniss,” he said.Her eyes widened slightly. I knew this wouldn’t be easy for her. Hell, it w
RenataNews of Katniss and Ethan's divorce spread quickly. When I first heard it, an overwhelming wave of anger crashed into my heart. I didn’t like it. I really didn’t like it.Their divorce meant a huge opportunity for James and Katniss to be together again. And that was something I could not accept. They were already bound together in a never-ending cycle, and now everything seemed to be falling into place for them.I sat in the living room, trying to calm myself, but the news kept haunting my thoughts. As I stayed focused on that, my attention was drawn to Scarlett, who looked far too pleased about this situation. Her wide grin—full of satisfaction, maybe even joy—only made me more annoyed.“You seem really happy. This is exactly what you’ve been waiting for, isn’t it?” I said, opening the conversation. Scarlett just stared at me, offering me a smug look.“Are you sure you’re going to get what you want? You really think you’ll get Ethan?” I asked, not hiding the jealousy in my ton
Jamest felt like everything had changed so quickly, so deeply, especially with Katniss here with me. Our days were filled with emotions I couldn’t fully explain—an intense passion mixed with fear and hope. And right now, as she touched my face and drew herself closer, I couldn’t hold back anymore.Her kiss, though gentle, warmed me. There was tenderness in her kiss, but also a desire that I knew wasn’t only mine. It was a way to express all the feelings that had been locked away in our hearts for so long. I felt my body respond to her kiss, her tongue moving cautiously, but I couldn’t hold myself back.I knew the nurse was in the room, and there were a few other staff members around as well, but I didn’t care. I wanted this, I wanted her. And when her lips met mine, it felt like the outside world faded away. My body slowly followed the rhythm of the kiss, demanding more, pushing deeper. There was tension in my chest, like an explosion of emotions that could no longer be contained.Bu
KatnissGiselle sat on the edge of her bed, her face pale and weak after yet another round of chemotherapy. I stood not far from her, my heart breaking at the sight of her condition. James was by our daughter’s side, and Ethan sat in the corner of the room, his expression full of worry.Giselle gently touched her head, which was covered by a hat, and suddenly pulled at a few strands of hair that had fallen to the floor. Her little face turned white when she realized how much hair was gone this time.“Mommy... why do I look so ugly?” Her cry shattered the silence, her voice filled with so much pain it cut through my heart. Her tiny hands gripped the fallen hair, as if holding onto proof of her suffering, a suffering she never should have had to face.I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore. I rushed to her side and held her close. “Sweetheart, you’re not ugly. You’re so beautiful, more beautiful than any princess that’s ever existed,” I whispered softly, trying to hide the sobs that were
Chapter 2JamesIt's been three weeks since I’ve been taking care of Giselle. Katniss just returned from visiting Scarlett. She’s in a very stressed state and was advised to completely rest at home because she's running a fever. Now, it's just me alone here—Ethan also has some business to attend to, though I have no idea what it's about.Giselle had briefly regained consciousness, and we were all so happy to see it. But the good news was short-lived because Giselle’s leukemia is in a very severe stage, and she needs chemotherapy for treatment.I still remember what Katniss said. “But Giselle really hates chemotherapy. She loves her long hair. If she undergoes chemo, her hair will fall out,” she said, tears streaming down her face. I tried to comfort her, assuring her that everything would be okay. Giselle is strong.Though I, too, felt utterly crushed.I stood beside Giselle's bed, staring at her fragile little body surrounded by infusion tubes and the constant beeping of the monitors
EthanI stared at Scarlett sharply, feeling my anger on the verge of explosion. "That's not true!" I said firmly, though my voice trembled slightly. "You're just making up stories to provoke me!"Scarlett laughed softly, a laugh filled with satisfaction and mockery. "Oh? So, it wouldn’t matter if I told Katniss the truth, would it?"I tried to remain calm. "She won't believe you," I said with almost desperate conviction.She shrugged nonchalantly, a thin smile creeping onto her face. "Maybe not. But you know Katniss better than I do, Ethan. Are you sure she won't question everything when I tell her? She's already shattered. It's not hard to make her doubt the one person who’s supposed to protect her."I said nothing, knowing every second in this room was only giving her more power over me. Gritting my teeth, I turned around and stormed out, slamming the door behind me.When I got into the car, I saw her—Katniss. She sat in the passenger seat, facing the window, but I could see her tea
Katniss“Scarlett, never in my life did I think you could stoop this low. For what? Love? You nearly killed an innocent child,” I spat, my voice trembling with raw fury. “You didn’t just kidnap Giselle—you poisoned her! Do you even want to know what her condition is right now?!”Scarlett remained silent, her lips pressed into a firm, unyielding line.“Because of the poison you gave her, she’s in a coma! Some of her vital organs are damaged, Scarlett! And you of all people know my daughter has leukemia. Your poison worsened her already fragile condition. She’s teetering on the brink of death, Scarlett!” My fists clenched tightly at my sides as I tried to steady my voice.“But you don’t care, do you? All you care about is the man you’re obsessed with. I know you hate me because I married Ethan, but why didn’t you direct all that hatred at me instead? Why did you have to involve Giselle? You could’ve hurt me, killed me, whatever. Just don’t touch my daughter!”I took a shaky breath, my c